Sacramento in Sacramento County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The Docks

By Syd Whittle, February 24, 2009

1. The Docks Marker

Inscription.

The Docks. . “The Docks” has had a remarkably varied occupational history. Gold Rush immigrants camped along the riverbank. In the following years, a limited number of individuals and families lived in the area in private residences and lodging houses. From the beginning of Euro-American occupation, however, the area was dominated by commercial and industrial activity because of its location adjacent to a navigational river. Speculators; small businesses including saloons, fish wholesalers, bakeries and groceries; larger enterprises such as produce wholesalers, lumber wholesalers, box manufacturers, iron foundries, transportation companies, reduction plants, soap manufacturers, distilleries and warehouse companies; and City agents consisting of the Harbor Master and Poundmaster all contributed to the history of the area. . However, the dominance of industry that inhibited residential and retail use largely ended by the 1930s. The southern waterfront’s excellent river, rail and, later, trucking facilities supported a variety of primary and secondary industries during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Rail and truck services, however, was not bound to the riverfront locations. Eventually, industries dependent on the rail systems also vanished when the transportation service was eliminated as a result of growing truck competition. Thus, the economic momentum provided by geography and transportation was lost. . In the early 1960s, the new Port of Sacramento was created. This West Sacramento facility, with its deep-water channel, completely displaced the old waterfront facilities that had evolved on the Sacramento waterfront. Redevelopment efforts in the 1960s changed the physical character of the neighborhood with the leveling of many of the blocks. This left an isolated, open space which belies the bustling activity of most of the area’s history. Gone were landmarks showing the presents of the Gold Rush entrepreneurs; the many generations of hotel operators at 1323 Front Street; most of the 19th-century industries; the many laborers, including the Austrian, Italian and Greek immigrants who predominated there at the turn-of-the-century; and the river and rail traffic that produced the heatbeat of “The Docks.” . The construction of the I-5 freeway in the late 1960s brought the destruction of most of the old buildings that still lined Front Street.

“The Docks” has had a remarkably varied occupational history. Gold Rush immigrants camped along the riverbank. In the following years, a limited number of individuals and families lived in the area in private residences and lodging houses. From the beginning of Euro-American occupation, however, the area was dominated by commercial and industrial activity because of its location adjacent to a navigational river. Speculators; small businesses including saloons, fish wholesalers, bakeries and groceries; larger enterprises such as produce wholesalers, lumber wholesalers, box manufacturers, iron foundries, transportation companies, reduction plants, soap manufacturers, distilleries and warehouse companies; and City agents consisting of the Harbor Master and Poundmaster all contributed to the history of the area.
However, the dominance of industry that inhibited residential and retail use largely ended by the 1930s. The southern waterfront’s excellent river, rail and, later, trucking facilities supported a variety of primary and secondary industries during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Rail and truck services, however, was not bound to the riverfront locations. Eventually, industries dependent on the rail systems also vanished when the transportation service was eliminated as a result of growing truck competition. Thus,

By Syd Whittle, February 24, 2009

2. The Docks Marker

the economic momentum provided by geography and transportation was lost.
In the early 1960s, the new Port of Sacramento was created. This West Sacramento facility, with its deep-water channel, completely displaced the old waterfront facilities that had evolved on the Sacramento waterfront. Redevelopment efforts in the 1960s changed the physical character of the neighborhood with the leveling of many of the blocks. This left an isolated, open space which belies the bustling activity of most of the area’s history. Gone were landmarks showing the presents of the Gold Rush entrepreneurs; the many generations of hotel operators at 1323 Front Street; most of the 19th-century industries; the many laborers, including the Austrian, Italian and Greek immigrants who predominated there at the turn-of-the-century; and the river and rail traffic that produced the heatbeat of “The Docks.”
The construction of the I-5 freeway in the late 1960s brought the destruction of most of the old buildings that still lined Front Street.

Location. 38° 34.781′ N, 121° 30.447′ W. Marker is in Sacramento, California, in Sacramento County. Marker can be reached from Capital Mall. Touch for map. Marker is located on the River Front Promenade off of Capital Mall and Front Streets, near the eastern approach

By Syd Whittle, February 24, 2009

3. Sacramento Waterfront in the 1930s

This marker, a few steps north of "The Docks" marker, displays photos of the waterfront in the 1930's.

to the Tower Bridge. Marker is in this post office area: Sacramento CA 95814, United States of America.

The open wharf between the N and P streets municipal warehouses, circa 1940.

By Syd Whittle, February 24, 2009

5. Close-Up of Photo on Waterfront-1930's Marker

The S.S. Harpoon of the Shepard Line docked between the N and P streets wharves, circa 1934.

By Syd Whittle, February 24, 2009

6. Close-Up of Photo on Waterfront-1930's Marker

View of the waterfront from P Street north, circa 1934.

California State Library - McCurry Foto Co.

7. Steamers Docked at Sacramento

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on February 27, 2009, by Syd Whittle of El Dorado Hills, California. This page has been viewed 1,077 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on February 27, 2009, by Syd Whittle of El Dorado Hills, California. 7. submitted on April 2, 2009, by Syd Whittle of El Dorado Hills, California.

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